\n<\/p>\n
Stephen Curry scored 31 points as he helped the Golden State Warriors beat LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers 128-121.<\/b><\/p>\n
James scored 40 points for the Lakers but could not stop the Warriors leapfrogging them into ninth place in the Western Conference. <\/p>\n
“They always going to talk about me and him,” Curry said of James. <\/p>\n
“It was about our total group tonight. For us, it takes a whole team to win and we needed it – we needed it bad.”<\/p>\n
The match was marred by lengthy replay delays, with one overturning a three-pointer from James, and multiple shot-clock malfunctions with about two minutes to go.<\/p>\n
“I’ve never seen that in my career. Usually they have a back-up clock or something,” said 36-year-old Curry, who returned after a three-game absence because of an ankle injury.<\/p>\n
“That’s the worst thing that could happen, especially this age. You build up all pre-game, you get going and when the engine shuts off it’s hard to get it going again.”<\/p>\n
The Warriors are a percentage point above the Lakers, with both teams in the last two play-in positions in the Western Conference., external<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The Lakers were hindered by losing Anthony Davis after the first quarter because of an eye injury.<\/p>\n “A big win for us,” added Curry. “I don’t know the last time we won in here against them. Big deal.”<\/p>\n Elsewhere, Jalen Brunson scored 42 points to help the New York Knicks to a 98-91 victory against the Sacramento Kings.<\/p>\n Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Memphis Grizzlies 118-112 to move top of the Western Conference, alongside the Denver Nuggets with a 47-20 record.<\/p>\n Jalen Williams scored 23 points and registered seven rebounds and six assists in the Thunder’s win.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n